Emma Raducanu in Tears After Tough Korean Open Win Against Jaqueline Cristian

Kicking off her Asian swing at the Korea Open, Emma Raducanu has emotions running high. The British No.1 skipped Billie Jean King Cup duty with Great Britain this year, choosing instead to refocus on the main tour. Her opening match tested her patience. A rain delay forced rescheduling, and when play eventually began, Emma struggled to keep a handle on all the emotions swirling around her.

On Wednesday, when play finally resumed in Seoul, Raducanu’s clash with Jaqueline Cristian turned dramatic fast. The intensity was there from the first ball! Both players were locked in a tight battle, trading blows and refusing to blink. But at 3-3, while serving, Emma suddenly broke down in tears. The 2021 US Open champion looked overwhelmed, her emotions spilling over under the spotlight.

Then came a twist. Just moments after wiping away those tears, Raducanu roared back with grit. She dug in, saved four break points, and held serve with a gutsy statement game. The fight didn’t stop there. Cristian answered with a marathon deuce of her own, finishing it off with a crisp forehand that kissed the baseline. On the next chance, she broke Emma’s serve to steal away the momentum. But Emma kept pushing and sealed a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

It’s unknown what caused Emma Raducanu to break down in the first set. For now, one thing is sure: chasing ranking points right now is the top priority. And the Briton proved that by making it into the Round of 16!

Ahead of the Korea Open, Emma recieved some crticism from entities like TV presenter Matt Roberts sparked criticism, grouping her withdrawal with Naomi Osaka and Madison Keys. But he admitted Emma’s absence hit hardest. “Raducanu’s was the one that was a real shame to me, I must say. I don’t want to be harsher on Radacanu than I am on other players. You know, I want to see all the players play Billie Jean King if possible,” he said.

The Briton, though, didn’t take the call lightly. Last year, she lifted GB with a flawless singles run into the semis. This season, her form is climbing, semis in Washington, quarters in Miami, and she’s now teamed with new coach Francisco Roig. With momentum and a fresh setup, she looks ready for the payoff!

Emma Raducanu opens up about her first win in Seoul

The eighth seed at the Korean Open looked shaky to start, netting a forehand at 3-3 and facing two early break points. But she steadied herself, held firm, and snatched the lead 5-3 after a costly Cristian double fault. Even then, closing wasn’t simple, Emma dug through two more break points before finally pocketing the opener after a grinding hour and seven minutes of baseline battles.

The world No. 41, came out firing with seven winners to Raducanu’s zero by the first changeover, finishing with 25 in total. Yet her 38 unforced errors kept dragging her back. Emma pounced, breaking back twice in the second set and electrifying the crowd with a dazzling running forehand down the line. She struck again in the ninth game and, serving for the match, held her nerve one last time to finish the job in two hours and two minutes.

“I’m super happy to have won,” Emma Raducanu said afterward in her post-match interview. “It hasn’t been easy. I feel like I’ve played this match the last three days. To have pulled through after waiting, I’m super pleased at how I came through. Jaqueline is a really tough opponent and has had great results recently. [They were] tough conditions, very slow, long rallies and long points, so happy to have got through.”

For Emma Raducanu, the result carried significance beyond just the numbers on the scoreboard. Opting for the WTA grind instead of representing Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup, she believes the commitment will serve her long-term progress, especially as she settles into her new partnership with coach Francisco Roig.

Next up, she faces two-time Slam champ Barbora Krejcikova, who cruised past Tatiana Prozorova 6-1, 6-2. Could there be another quarterfinal run on the cards or something even bigger? Tell us what you think in the comments!